Cajuns Had No Answers

Cajuns Had No Answers

BOBBY ARDOIN

Editor/Consulting Writer

There was never much doubt about which team ultimately controlled the outcome of the Hercules Tire Sun Belt championship football game at cold and damp Cajun Field Saturday night.

With the exception of a first quarter, 40-yard field goal by Louisiana placekicker Kenny Almondares, the Cajuns were never much of an offensive threat for Marshall University which easily took the SBC championship trophy following a 31-3 victory.

The Thundering Herd offense and line of scrimmage control provided enough adversity for the Cajuns, who also created multiple problems for themselves.

While Marshall maintained offensive possession for 34 minutes, the Cajuns finished with 113 accepted penalty yards, a mere 56 net yards rushing and were without a senior starting quarterback Chandler Fields, whose shoulder injury will prevent him from participating in a postseason bowl game.

Louisiana head coach Mike Desormeaux indicated that whatever the Cajuns originally had in mind for Marshall apparently wasn’t the right recipe.

“We didn’t have a good enough plan and we were not good enough on offense. This did not turn out the way we wanted. I love these guys and I’m proud of them. This game doesn’t define who we are and I feel bad for this team that we didn’t prepare them better,” Desormeaux said following the game.

Both the Cajuns and Marshall are 10-3 and will participate in bowl games. The win was also the eighth straight this year for the Herd.

Marshall finished with 410 total yards, as quarterback Braylon Braxton passed for 193 and two touchdowns. Running back Jordan Houston gained 117 rushing.

The Cajuns finished the nationally-televised contest with their No. 3 quarterback — freshman Daniel Beale — after Fields left the game following a breakaway 10-yard gain on the fourth play of the second quarter.

Fields, who became the starter following a collar bone injury to SBC Offensive Player Of The Year Ben Woolridge, passed for 104 yards before leaving the game.

Beale ended the game with 96 yards passing after completing 10-of-25 passes.

In the fourth quarter Beale directed a long drive that took nearly seven minutes, but threat ended at the Marshall 10-yard line after four straight incompletions.

The Almondares field goal was the 27th this season for the senior who has been named as one of three finalists for the Lou Groza award, emblematic of the best college placekicker.

However that was the preeminent offensive highlight for the Cajuns, who faced a 24-3 deficit at halftime.

The game might have been the final appearance at Marshall for head football coach Charlie Huff, who has not been extended a new contract by the university.